Yespers Sustainable Sourcing

I confirm that I am fully aware of the eligibility criteria, and based on its description, I am eligible to apply to the CSV Prize 2017.

Yes, I'm eligible

Preferred language

English

Organization name

Yespers

Year founded

2014

Initiative stage

Growth (the pilot has already launched and is starting to expand)

Annual budget in 2017 (USD)

$100k - $250k

Number of beneficiaries impacted so far

10 - 50

Organization type

Social enterprise

Secondary Focus Area

Rural development

Nutrition

Headquarters location: Country

Netherlands

Headquarters location: City

The Hague

Location(s) of impact

Ecuador: El GuaboNetherlands: Veghel

Website

www.yespers.com

Facebook URL

www.facebook.com/yespers

Twitter URL

@yespersfood

Problem: What problem is this initiative trying to address?

The food value chain is working the wrong way around. It's output driven and this liniair model creates poverty and has a negative effect on the planet and people. Food should be 1) healthy, should be 2) as sustainable as possible and 3) should contribute to rural development. The foodvalue chain is without a doubt the most efficient way to contribute to the SDG's. That what we stand for: foodwithimpact and impactwithfood.

Solution Summary: What is the proposed solution? What do you see as its most promising aspects for creating shared value?

We connect consumers to farmers using the ingredients in our products. Example with our first product: Step 1) Develop a new and healthy product: smoothiespreads Step 2) use the ingredients to go back to the source 3) source and bring those ingredients into our valuechain. 4) find a solution for own waste through product development 5)1st granola worldwide roasted in left over fruit. One the one hand we address a climate issue and with our strategy from consumer to the source we create social impact. It's a step by step process, ingredient per ingredient. Since we outsource secondairy processing we increase our impact. Eg the bananapuree we have sourced through our processor is now being used in other products as well. Food can do so much more then just feeding a person. Foodwithimpact and impactwithfood (we have claimed the URL's) to start spreading the story!

Impact: What is the impact of the work to date? Specify both the social and the environmental impact of your work

Our first impact and focus was to create demand: we are now selling our products in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Belgium. That enabled us to purchase around 6000 kg bananapuree at fairtrade prices in Ecuador and "rescued" 5500 kg of fruit for our granola in the Netherlands. Our next step is taking place right now with cashew as an ingredient. With this cashew project we aim to create income for 1500 people in West Africa in 7 years. Half of the world production takes place in Africa, only 10% of that is locally processed. We are currently looking to invest with partners in a local processing plant in West Africa to create local rural employment. This project also entails (of course) byproducts, like cashew apple (juice), cashew shells (energy) etc. Since we bring demand (granola) we are relevant. Since we outsource the production of the granola but control the ingredients, our processor can increase the impact by using "our"granola in other products as well.

Financial sustainability plan: How is this initiative financially supported? How will you ensure its financial sustainability long-term?

So far the company has been funded by the founder. Revenues are still small but growing nicely. We are in a first round of external funding as we speak. The aim is to to get to the breakeven within 4-5 years and reaching a turnover of 20mln in 7 years from now. This turnover is driven by Yespers products and revenue generated at the source (in coop with farmers). The pipeline with new and innovative products is filled so it's time to jump to the next level with the right partners. No impact without a sound financial business.

Unique value proposition: What makes your initiative innovative? How does your project differ from other organizations working in the same field?

We work on both sides of the food value chain, with a brand at the consumers side and with our Sustainable Sourcing at the farmers side. In the middle we use excisting processing capacity. We use this capacity because there is more then enough and it enables us to create more impact at the source. (a bit sneaky perhaps, but we use "the old" industry to increase our own impact. Sustainable and transparancy in the valuechain will be a hughe strategic advantage going forward for us.

Founding story: Share a story about the "Aha!" moment that sparked the beginning of this initiative.

During my previous job (investing in rural enterprises/farms) I discovered that solving a problem in one part of the chain does not have to lead to satisfying results. Increasing yields at a farmers level does not mean additional income in case there is no market for his products. What it does is it creates an negative impact on the planet but also a negative impact on the farmer. Good harvest, bad price. It's a chain problem. Aha! So if you see that your industry or product is hurting people or destroying the planet, there's only one thing you can do. Change that! That was the aha moment, I felt a moral obligation to turn that thing around.

Where did you hear about the Nestlé Creating Shared Value Prize?

Social media

Evaluation results

2 evaluations so far

1. Overall evaluation

5 - This idea rocked my world. It’s awesome! - 0%

4 - This idea seems really exciting. With a little more polishing, it’d be among my favorites. - 50%

3 - I think the idea is great, but it needs some work before it moves onto the next round. - 0%